By Noor Malhotra 
Vidya Balan is a force to be reckoned with, and her past films like The Dirty Picture and Bhool Bhulaiya have certainly cemented her place in the annals of Bollywood.
But Bobby Jasoos is neither too serious, nor does it have the intensity or the drama of the previous films, leading many people to wonder: is Bobby Jasoos worth a watch?
Fret not, because I’m here to answer all your questions.
Bobby Jasoos (2014) — Review at a Glance
- Story — 3.5/5
- Acting — 3.5/5
- Direction — 3/5
- Music — 2.5/5
Must-Watch: No
One-Time Watch: Yes
Pros: An overall entertaining movie
Cons: Certain portions of the plot have been unnecessarily dramatised
Bobby Jasoos Rating: 3/5
Bobby Jasoos (2014) Review — A Deep Dive
It’s always a good day, in my opinion, when any thriller sheds its serious perception and embraces some wackiness and comedy to give viewers a distinct cinematic experience.
I can’t lie — I do have a soft space for anything comedic, at the end of the day.
For this reason, I found Bobby Jasoos rather entertaining. At its core, it has a good story with an eclectic mix of suspense and hilarity, though it does feel like it lacks a certain finesse.
What do I mean by this?
Well, I understand that Bobby Jasoos isn’t meant to be a serious film. Still, it seems as though the plot had much more potential but suffers from a case of “Bollywood-isation.” In other words, there are certain portions where unnecessary drama does it a disservice — and a more muted approach could have enhanced the cinematic experience it delivers.
Having said that, the cast of Bobby Jasoos works together really well, and Balan being romantically paired with Ali Fazal was a great idea. Both of them have a playfulness and charm that supports the other; it’s not forced chemistry.
Arjan Bajwa has, once again, been typecast as the apparent villain in this film, but he holds his own in Bobby Jasoos.
While the cast of this film is well-chosen, what did disappoint is Bobby Jasoos’ music. None of the tracks really stand out… it’s generic music fitted into the story simply because it’s a Bollywood film. It lacks any soul, unfortunately.
Still, when you want a film that has some substance yet doesn’t require you to use too much brain space, then Bobby Jasoos can be the ideal escape for you.
Was Bobby Jasoos a Hit or Flop?
Even at the box office, Bobby Jasoos seems to have evoked an average response.
Made with a budget of ₹26 crore, Bobby Jasoos managed to earn only ₹11.74 crore in India in its lifetime, according to Bollywood Hungama, and ₹4.3 crore internationally.
Bobby Jasoos Plot Summary
Bobby is an aspiring private detective who dreams of making it in the big leagues but is only able to find small cases in Hyderabad when she first starts out — including getting rid of marriage proposals for Tasawwur, a local TV host.
One day, Anees Khan, a rich NRI, hires her to track down two women with distinct birthmarks, as well as a boy, without revealing any other information about them. Bobby has her work cut out for her, but what she uncovers as she goes on this journey is more than she bargained for.
Bobby Jasoos Cast Details
- Vidya Balan: Bobby (aka Bilqees Ahmed)
- Ali Fazal: Tasawwur Sheikh
- Arjan Bajwa: Lala
- Kiran Kumar: Anees Khan
- Supriya Pathak: Bobby’s Ammi
- Rajendra Gupta: Bobby’s father